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119-s-4385119th CongressWALLET

Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Smith, Tina [D-MN]

Introduced

Summary

Raises minimum broadband speed thresholds for program eligibility.

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This bill would tighten who can get Community Connect grants by focusing the program on rural areas and updating the speeds that count as served. It would set a primary eligibility test of less than 100 Mbps downstream and less than 20 Mbps upstream, raise other subthresholds to 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, allow enforceable future deployment commitments from other federal broadband programs to count toward eligible areas, and change a referenced year to 2031.

  • Families in rural communities: Areas would qualify only if they lack at least 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up, narrowing which households are eligible for grant-driven buildouts.
  • Broadband applicants and small providers: Applicants could rely on enforceable future deployment commitments from other federal programs when defining an eligible service area, which can affect where grants flow.
  • Program planning and timelines: A year reference in the law would move from 2023 to 2031, affecting long‑term program references and deadlines.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Rural broadband eligibility changes

If enacted, the Community Connect Grant program would change which places can get grants. Areas would be eligible only if they are rural. An area would meet a speed test only if download capacity is under 100 Mbps. Upload capacity must be under 20 Mbps. A related test would use 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up instead of prior numbers. Enforceable future broadband deployment commitments under another funded program would count toward eligibility. The bill would also change a statutory year reference from 2023 to 2031.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Smith, Tina [D-MN]

MN • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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